Syria says US set up oil refinery in Hasakah

This picture taken shows a view of oil production facilities at the Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian Deir Ezzor province [DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images]

US forces, in cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have set-up an oil refinery in the oilfields of Rmeilan in the northeastern city of Hasakah, state-run SANA news agency reported.

The agency quoted a source from the Rmeilan oil fields as saying that “US forces have installed an oil refinery with a capacity of 3,000 barrels per day, in cooperation with the SDF, in the Rmeilan fields”.

“The coming period will witness a significant increase in theft and looting of Syrian oil by the American forces,” the source added.

In February 2018, Syrian regime forces attacked an oil field controlled by the SDF militia near Deir Ez-Zor governorate. The assault was carried out with Russian support.

At the time, US forces intervened and killed more than 416 militants in what had been described as a clear American message that Washington will not allow anyone to approach the oil fields in eastern Syria.

READ: US beefs up military presence in Syria oil fields

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